WEBVTT - Hour 1: Read the Bible 0:00:08.660 --> 0:00:12.920 Remember the song Stormy Weather? Well, I sometimes think it 0:00:12.920 --> 0:00:16.549 should be included in our hymnals from time to time. 0:00:16.550 --> 0:00:20.300 We all face stormy weather, storms in life. Stay with me. 0:00:20.329 --> 0:00:23.300 We'll talk about God's purposes for the storms of life 0:00:23.300 --> 0:00:27.620 in just a moment. Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line 0:00:27.620 --> 0:00:32.240 with Doctor Michael Ray Moody radio's Bible study Across America. 0:00:32.270 --> 0:00:34.729 My name is Michael Ray Dolnick. I'm the academic dean. 0:00:34.729 --> 0:00:37.250 I'm also a professor of Jewish studies and Bible at 0:00:37.250 --> 0:00:41.960 Moody Bible Institute. And we're here together live sitting around 0:00:41.960 --> 0:00:47.360 the radio kitchen table taking your questions about the Bible, God, 0:00:47.360 --> 0:00:49.940 and the spiritual life. If you have a question and 0:00:49.940 --> 0:00:57.770 you'd like to call the phone number, here is (877) 548-3675. 0:00:57.800 --> 0:01:06.340 Let me give you that one more time. (877) 548-3675. Tricia 0:01:06.340 --> 0:01:09.730 McMillan is in the producer's chair. Ryan McConaughey is handling 0:01:09.730 --> 0:01:13.720 all things technical and TR is answering the phones again. 0:01:13.750 --> 0:01:19.720 Phone number (877) 548-3675. People say, how do I get in? 0:01:19.720 --> 0:01:22.120 Best time to call right now at the beginning of 0:01:22.120 --> 0:01:24.699 the program so we can get you set up with 0:01:24.700 --> 0:01:27.399 your call? Well, time to go get yourself a cup 0:01:27.400 --> 0:01:31.600 of coffee and open your Bible, because we're about to 0:01:31.630 --> 0:01:37.150 study the scriptures together. Well, I have to say this. 0:01:37.150 --> 0:01:40.479 I have a dear friend may even be listening. He 0:01:40.480 --> 0:01:47.020 is going through a major storm right now. He's dealing 0:01:47.020 --> 0:01:52.480 with cancer. He's already had surgery. He's struggling with chemotherapy 0:01:52.510 --> 0:02:00.780 right now. And truthfully, it's a big storm. And I 0:02:00.780 --> 0:02:02.790 was thinking about him and I thought, you know, we 0:02:02.790 --> 0:02:06.420 all have faced and will face and continue to face 0:02:06.420 --> 0:02:10.200 storms in life from time to time. It might be 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:14.100 a health crisis like his, or maybe it's a relational 0:02:14.100 --> 0:02:18.120 blow up or a financial downturn. Or you can think 0:02:18.120 --> 0:02:22.139 of it however you like. We go through storms, we 0:02:22.139 --> 0:02:24.570 can hear the thunder, we can see the lightning in 0:02:24.570 --> 0:02:27.570 our lives. And we wonder, why would the Lord Jesus 0:02:27.570 --> 0:02:30.180 allow this in my life? People ask me that all 0:02:30.180 --> 0:02:33.780 the time. Why is God allowing this? Well, the Mark 0:02:33.780 --> 0:02:38.760 chapter four, verses 35 through 41, we can learn not 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:41.490 only why the Lord Jesus allows the storms in life, 0:02:41.490 --> 0:02:47.790 but why he actually deliberately places us in in those storms. 0:02:47.820 --> 0:02:50.880 If you read Mark 435 through 41, it says this. 0:02:50.910 --> 0:02:53.549 On that day when evening had come, he told them, 0:02:53.550 --> 0:02:56.790 let's cross over to the other side of the sea. 0:02:56.930 --> 0:02:59.510 So they left the crowd and took him along. Since 0:02:59.510 --> 0:03:02.840 he was already in the boat and other boats were 0:03:02.840 --> 0:03:06.590 with him. A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were 0:03:06.590 --> 0:03:09.169 breaking over the boat so that the boat was already 0:03:09.169 --> 0:03:12.920 being swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on 0:03:12.919 --> 0:03:16.610 the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, teacher, 0:03:17.090 --> 0:03:22.549 don't you care that we're going to die? He got up, 0:03:22.550 --> 0:03:27.860 rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, silence! Be still. 0:03:27.980 --> 0:03:31.010 The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then 0:03:31.010 --> 0:03:35.330 he said to them, why are you fearful? Do you 0:03:35.330 --> 0:03:40.250 still have no faith? And they were terrified, and asked 0:03:40.250 --> 0:03:45.050 one another, who then is this? Even the wind and 0:03:45.050 --> 0:03:51.410 the sea obey him. I think, like the disciples, we 0:03:51.440 --> 0:03:56.420 sometimes have mistaken ideas about storms. Arms. I think they 0:03:56.420 --> 0:04:02.330 had three mistaken ideas. One. Like them. We think that 0:04:02.330 --> 0:04:06.680 storms are random. You know, it says in verse 35, 0:04:06.680 --> 0:04:10.910 when evening had come, he told them, let's cross over 0:04:10.910 --> 0:04:12.950 to the other side of the sea. Now remember, this 0:04:12.950 --> 0:04:14.990 is the one who rebukes the wind and the sea. 0:04:15.020 --> 0:04:18.380 He knows what is going to happen. This is the 0:04:18.380 --> 0:04:23.690 one who creates the world and the weather. And so 0:04:23.690 --> 0:04:25.880 when he says, let's cross over, it doesn't mean he 0:04:25.880 --> 0:04:29.690 doesn't know that verse 37 will happen, that a fierce 0:04:29.690 --> 0:04:34.700 windstorm will come up. Storms are not part of cosmic roulette, 0:04:34.700 --> 0:04:37.279 but they are deliberate. The Lord Jesus told them to 0:04:37.279 --> 0:04:40.279 get in the boat knowing that a storm was coming. 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:44.750 So often we think they're just random. You know, when 0:04:44.750 --> 0:04:48.860 I came to faith in Jesus more than 50 years ago, 0:04:48.890 --> 0:04:52.280 it was very popular to use the four spiritual laws 0:04:52.279 --> 0:04:55.720 and they would say, God loves you and has a 0:04:55.720 --> 0:04:57.880 wonderful plan for your life. Well, I came to know 0:04:57.880 --> 0:05:00.010 the Lord and within a month my dad had disowned 0:05:00.010 --> 0:05:03.460 me and I thought, is this God's wonderful plan for 0:05:03.460 --> 0:05:07.390 my life? I didn't make any sense, but it wasn't 0:05:07.420 --> 0:05:10.990 a random event. It was something that God placed me 0:05:10.990 --> 0:05:16.060 into deliberately. The Lord put me there for a reason. 0:05:16.060 --> 0:05:20.320 It's not random. And secondly, like the disciples, we think 0:05:20.350 --> 0:05:23.890 the Lord Jesus is unaware of the storm. It says 0:05:23.890 --> 0:05:28.630 in verse 38 that he was in the stern, sleeping 0:05:28.630 --> 0:05:32.260 on a cushion. And you know when you're sleeping, when 0:05:32.260 --> 0:05:35.110 we're sleeping, we're often not aware of what's going on. 0:05:35.140 --> 0:05:37.719 I have to say this about the Lord Jesus. Even 0:05:37.720 --> 0:05:41.650 though he had to sleep from fatigue in his human, 0:05:41.680 --> 0:05:44.680 he's fully God and fully man. In his humanness, he 0:05:44.680 --> 0:05:49.479 had to rest. His deity always knew what was going on. 0:05:49.480 --> 0:05:52.799 It's not that he's unaware. That's a mistaken idea. The 0:05:52.800 --> 0:05:55.620 reason I would say that is in Psalm 121 four 0:05:55.650 --> 0:06:00.630 it says, he that guards Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. 0:06:00.630 --> 0:06:04.770 So the God of Israel always knows what's going on. 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:07.890 It's not that he's unaware. And then the third mistaken 0:06:07.890 --> 0:06:11.159 idea we have is we think the Lord Jesus doesn't 0:06:11.160 --> 0:06:14.940 care about our storm. It says in verse 38 and 0:06:14.940 --> 0:06:16.860 the second half of the verse, they woke him up 0:06:16.860 --> 0:06:19.500 and said to him, teacher, don't you care that we're 0:06:19.500 --> 0:06:23.880 going to die? They thought he didn't care. Well, of 0:06:23.880 --> 0:06:26.789 course the Lord Jesus cared. Think about the Lord Jesus 0:06:26.820 --> 0:06:31.650 going to see Martha and Mary after their brother Lazarus 0:06:31.650 --> 0:06:35.610 had died. And how it says that short verse Jesus 0:06:35.610 --> 0:06:40.470 wept because he cared so much for them. So we 0:06:40.470 --> 0:06:43.440 do have mistaken ideas about storms, but what are the 0:06:43.440 --> 0:06:46.410 correct ideas that we need to have? What are the 0:06:46.410 --> 0:06:50.670 real reasons for the storms in life? Well, verse 39, 0:06:50.700 --> 0:06:56.870 the Lord Jesus, uh, says he gets up. He rebukes 0:06:56.870 --> 0:07:01.190 the wind. He tells it silent. Be still. You know, 0:07:01.220 --> 0:07:05.540 and it stops. And then it says, why are you fearful? 0:07:05.570 --> 0:07:09.290 Do you still have no faith? Part of the reason 0:07:09.290 --> 0:07:12.110 for a storm is to build our faith, to grow 0:07:12.110 --> 0:07:15.140 our trust in him. When we're in a storm, we 0:07:15.140 --> 0:07:18.590 either have to abandon hope or trust that God knows 0:07:18.590 --> 0:07:22.700 and he's in charge. He's encouraging them to trust him, 0:07:22.700 --> 0:07:26.060 and he encourages us in our storms to increase our faith, 0:07:26.060 --> 0:07:29.780 to trust him more and more. Secondly, verse 41 shows 0:07:29.780 --> 0:07:32.990 another true reason. It says they were terrified. And then 0:07:32.990 --> 0:07:36.500 they say when they see the the storm stop. Who 0:07:36.530 --> 0:07:41.390 then is this? You see what he was doing by 0:07:41.390 --> 0:07:44.630 rebuking the wind and the waves, by showing his sovereignty 0:07:44.660 --> 0:07:48.770 over the weather, that this isn't just an ordinary Bible 0:07:48.800 --> 0:07:51.610 teacher from Galilee. He is showing that he is the 0:07:51.640 --> 0:07:54.250 God of creation. He is in charge of this. Who 0:07:54.280 --> 0:07:58.840 then is this? He is revealing his true identity as 0:07:58.840 --> 0:08:02.680 God in the flesh. That's what he does. Every time 0:08:02.680 --> 0:08:04.840 we're in a storm, when we cry out to him, 0:08:04.840 --> 0:08:08.080 he reveals his true identity. The God who is sovereign 0:08:08.080 --> 0:08:11.410 over our lives and caring for us. So it reveals 0:08:11.410 --> 0:08:15.970 his true identity. And then thirdly, it demonstrates the Lord's 0:08:15.970 --> 0:08:20.590 power over all the storms of life. In verse 41 0:08:20.590 --> 0:08:24.910 it says, who then is this? Even then even the 0:08:24.910 --> 0:08:29.110 wind and the sea obey him. How could it be? 0:08:29.140 --> 0:08:33.520 You see, he is more powerful than any storm we're 0:08:33.520 --> 0:08:37.599 going through. He can control it because he is more powerful. 0:08:37.630 --> 0:08:40.060 So what do I say about this? When we're in 0:08:40.059 --> 0:08:43.569 the midst of the storm, whether it's a financial crisis, 0:08:43.570 --> 0:08:50.520 whether it's an emotional problem, whether it's a relational disruption, 0:08:50.520 --> 0:08:54.660 whether it's a physical ailment, whatever it is that we're facing, 0:08:54.660 --> 0:08:58.560 whatever storm we're in and what we need to do, 0:08:58.590 --> 0:09:01.350 we need to do what the disciples did, cry out 0:09:01.380 --> 0:09:04.800 to the Lord Jesus, and then he'll show us just 0:09:04.800 --> 0:09:14.550 how powerful he really is. Well, I'm so glad that 0:09:14.550 --> 0:09:16.260 you're listening. And one of the ways that the Lord 0:09:16.260 --> 0:09:19.020 showed his power, and I wanted to remind you of 0:09:19.020 --> 0:09:21.900 this was in the book of acts. So often we 0:09:21.900 --> 0:09:25.319 think of God's power revealed in the book of acts, 0:09:25.350 --> 0:09:27.840 is through the wonderful signs and wonders that take place 0:09:27.840 --> 0:09:30.990 in the book of Acts. But the real power in 0:09:30.990 --> 0:09:33.449 the book of acts is the advance of the good 0:09:33.450 --> 0:09:37.890 news from Jerusalem to Samaria, to Judea, to Samaria, and 0:09:37.890 --> 0:09:40.650 then to the remotest part of the earth, even to Rome. 0:09:41.040 --> 0:09:46.950 And that's why I've chosen a wonderful resource for this month. 0:09:46.970 --> 0:09:50.449 It's called the Everyday Bible Commentary on Acts. It was 0:09:50.450 --> 0:09:53.480 written by one of my favorite professors in seminary. His 0:09:53.480 --> 0:09:58.729 name is Charles Ryrie. It is a terrific resource. It 0:09:58.730 --> 0:10:03.679 is something that will enhance your understanding of God's Word. 0:10:03.679 --> 0:10:07.760 And so, uh, I really recommend it. And it's yours. 0:10:07.790 --> 0:10:09.620 We just want to send it to you to say 0:10:09.620 --> 0:10:11.989 thank you for a gift of any size. So as 0:10:11.990 --> 0:10:15.559 you give a gift, uh, feel free to ask for 0:10:15.559 --> 0:10:18.260 this book. The Everyday Commentary on Acts. If you'd like 0:10:18.260 --> 0:10:22.610 to make a gift and receive the everyday Bible commentary 0:10:22.610 --> 0:10:29.689 on acts. Just call (877) 548-3675. And we're going to talk 0:10:29.690 --> 0:10:36.620 to Linda in Ohio listening on Wtxf. Welcome to Open Line. Linda. 0:10:36.620 --> 0:10:37.940 How can I help you today? 0:10:38.300 --> 0:10:44.900 I have a question concerning the Holy Spirit and like 0:10:45.380 --> 0:10:49.310 I and my devotional. They're always speaking of like, ask 0:10:49.309 --> 0:10:52.939 the Holy Spirit to help you whenever you speak, you know, 0:10:52.970 --> 0:10:55.760 or you know, like I'm going to like, pray. Am 0:10:55.760 --> 0:10:59.510 I praying to the Holy Spirit? No. I think we 0:10:59.510 --> 0:11:03.110 need to hear a little bit more about, like what 0:11:03.110 --> 0:11:06.770 part the Holy Spirit plays in our life. I know 0:11:06.770 --> 0:11:09.500 he's our comforter. I know what he does for me, 0:11:09.530 --> 0:11:10.310 I believe. 0:11:10.460 --> 0:11:13.160 Okay, so, Linda, I think your question is, should we 0:11:13.160 --> 0:11:16.189 pray to the Holy Spirit to help us? Is that 0:11:16.220 --> 0:11:18.050 what I hear you asking? Yeah. 0:11:18.260 --> 0:11:21.770 That's the way her, her, her journal. Her. 0:11:22.520 --> 0:11:26.480 Yeah. Well, here's the thing. In the Bible, there's some 0:11:26.480 --> 0:11:30.470 pretty clear directions in the New Testament of how we're 0:11:30.500 --> 0:11:33.530 to pray. We need to pray to the father. That's 0:11:33.530 --> 0:11:37.100 who we address our prayers to in the name of 0:11:37.100 --> 0:11:42.350 the son. That doesn't just mean a little, uh, formula 0:11:42.350 --> 0:11:44.300 that we say at the end of prayers, meaning, okay, 0:11:44.300 --> 0:11:46.990 let's eat when we pray in the name of the 0:11:46.990 --> 0:11:49.570 Lord Jesus. What we're saying is he is our advocate. 0:11:49.600 --> 0:11:55.090 He is our representative. He is our advocate with with 0:11:55.090 --> 0:12:00.670 the father, our priest, our mediator. And that's why we're 0:12:00.670 --> 0:12:03.700 praying in his name. And so we pray to the 0:12:03.700 --> 0:12:07.240 father in the name of the son, by the power 0:12:07.240 --> 0:12:09.790 of the Holy Spirit. I think that what we do 0:12:09.790 --> 0:12:13.000 is we ask the Lord to show us, uh, it's 0:12:13.000 --> 0:12:19.420 not enough to pray about what's on our hearts. We ask, uh, 0:12:19.420 --> 0:12:22.449 the Lord Jesus to show us. We ask the father 0:12:22.720 --> 0:12:24.340 in the name of the Lord Jesus, to show us 0:12:24.340 --> 0:12:28.900 what we're to pray for. And he empowers us by 0:12:28.900 --> 0:12:33.730 His Spirit, uh, and impresses by His Spirit on what 0:12:33.730 --> 0:12:37.240 we're to pray for. But all that to be said, 0:12:37.630 --> 0:12:39.580 you know, when I look at the scriptures, there's only 0:12:39.580 --> 0:12:42.850 one prayer directed to the Lord Jesus. That's when Stephen 0:12:42.850 --> 0:12:47.970 Steven is about to be martyred, he as he's dying, 0:12:47.970 --> 0:12:50.970 he says, Lord Jesus, into your hands I commit my spirit. 0:12:51.000 --> 0:12:54.870 That's the only prayer directed to the Lord Jesus. Prayer 0:12:54.870 --> 0:12:58.080 is always directed to the father in the name of 0:12:58.080 --> 0:13:00.990 the son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now 0:13:00.990 --> 0:13:06.150 that said, I don't think that God is as legalistic 0:13:06.150 --> 0:13:09.690 as we are. Uh, that oh, if you pray to 0:13:09.720 --> 0:13:12.420 the Holy Spirit, he won't hear you. But I think 0:13:12.420 --> 0:13:15.210 that the Holy Spirit is the shy member of the 0:13:15.210 --> 0:13:19.410 Triune God, and would rather that we pray to the 0:13:19.410 --> 0:13:22.680 father in the name of the son. I hope that helps. Linda, 0:13:22.679 --> 0:13:25.050 we're going to take a break here, and when we 0:13:25.080 --> 0:13:28.830 come back, we'll talk with you about your question about 0:13:28.830 --> 0:13:31.500 the Bible, God or the spiritual life. Again, our phone 0:13:31.500 --> 0:13:40.800 number (877) 548-3675. We're going to talk about whatever it is 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.099 that you want to talk about regarding the scriptures. So 0:13:43.100 --> 0:13:45.710 stay with me. This is Michael Ray Dolnick and I'll 0:13:45.710 --> 0:14:02.270 be right back. Welcome back to Open Line. So glad 0:14:02.270 --> 0:14:03.979 to be with you today. I did want to tell 0:14:03.980 --> 0:14:12.170 you about the Chosen People Ministries, Messianic Jewish art calendar. Uh, 0:14:12.710 --> 0:14:14.060 a lot of people say, why in the world do 0:14:14.059 --> 0:14:18.020 you have a calendar that comes out in August or September? 0:14:18.020 --> 0:14:20.420 It starts with September. Well, the reason is just like 0:14:20.420 --> 0:14:22.940 school starting in September, and there's a lot of academic 0:14:22.940 --> 0:14:26.180 calendars that start in September. The Jewish festivals start of 0:14:26.180 --> 0:14:30.080 the year, start the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah begins 0:14:30.080 --> 0:14:36.320 in September. And so this calendar goes September through December. 0:14:36.350 --> 0:14:40.479 It's a 15 month calendar. Uh, but what's really especially 0:14:40.480 --> 0:14:43.450 great about it is it tells the story, this one 0:14:43.450 --> 0:14:46.270 in particular, the story of the Jewish people in the 0:14:46.270 --> 0:14:48.670 land of Israel. It says from the promise given to 0:14:48.700 --> 0:14:52.450 Abraham through exiles and returns, and then stated, and even 0:14:52.450 --> 0:14:56.680 ten seven God's hand has always been evident, caring for 0:14:56.680 --> 0:15:01.840 the Jewish people. And this is a terrific calendar. It's yours. 0:15:02.320 --> 0:15:04.900 All you have to do is go to our website. Open. 0:15:04.930 --> 0:15:09.760 It's free. Just go to Openline radio.org. Scroll down and 0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:12.040 click on the link that says A Free gift from 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:16.390 Chosen People Ministries. I'm so grateful. Chosen people partners with 0:15:16.390 --> 0:15:20.530 us to bring you with Moody to to bring you Openline. Uh, 0:15:20.530 --> 0:15:24.070 also chosen people as partnering with Moody for an upcoming 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:31.150 conference November 9th. It's called the Summit opposing anti-Semitism. It's 0:15:31.150 --> 0:15:34.240 a very special day. I'll be speaking. Doctor Mark Jobe, 0:15:34.240 --> 0:15:37.660 president of Moody, will be speaking. Mitch Glazer, president of 0:15:37.690 --> 0:15:42.660 Chosen People ministries will be speaking. Even Don Sweeting, the 0:15:42.660 --> 0:15:45.450 son of former president of Moody, George Sweeting, he's the 0:15:45.450 --> 0:15:50.040 chancellor of Colorado Christian University. He's a terrific speaker, someone 0:15:50.040 --> 0:15:53.460 I went to college with and someone I really appreciate 0:15:53.460 --> 0:15:57.360 about his understanding and heart for God's love for the 0:15:57.360 --> 0:16:01.470 Jewish people. And it's a summit teaching us how we're 0:16:01.500 --> 0:16:06.690 to take a stand and oppose anti-Semitism, how believers today, 0:16:06.690 --> 0:16:10.140 how churches can take a stand with the Jewish people 0:16:10.140 --> 0:16:14.130 and oppose anti-Semitism. If you're interested in joining us, I 0:16:14.130 --> 0:16:19.260 hope you will. It's in Chicago, November 9th, 2024. What 0:16:19.260 --> 0:16:22.260 you have to do is go to our website, openline radio.org, 0:16:22.260 --> 0:16:24.600 and you can click on the link. There's a banner 0:16:24.600 --> 0:16:29.670 that says The Summit on Opposing anti-Semitism. And we're going 0:16:29.700 --> 0:16:34.170 to talk to Craig in Minnesota right now listening on Ktag. 0:16:34.200 --> 0:16:37.230 Welcome to Open Line. Craig. How can I help you? 0:16:38.100 --> 0:16:41.340 Thank you. Yes. Several weeks ago, I was teaching on 0:16:41.340 --> 0:16:46.110 Genesis and I said that there are three verses Genesis 126, 0:16:46.140 --> 0:16:51.720 322 and 11 seven that are evidences that the Trinity 0:16:51.720 --> 0:16:55.320 is in Genesis. Because in all three of those verses 0:16:55.320 --> 0:16:59.460 the pronoun us is used by God, referring to himself. 0:16:59.490 --> 0:17:01.620 I just wanted to make sure that I was correct 0:17:01.620 --> 0:17:02.790 in what I'm teaching. 0:17:04.260 --> 0:17:09.090 Well, it seems to me that it's a little too 0:17:09.090 --> 0:17:12.090 much of a jump to say the Trinity is taught 0:17:12.090 --> 0:17:17.129 in Genesis. I think that there is the plurality of 0:17:17.130 --> 0:17:23.190 the Godhead being taught in Genesis, that it indicates there's 0:17:23.190 --> 0:17:27.270 some sort of mystery form, a plurality in his oneness. 0:17:27.270 --> 0:17:31.139 I think that's what what we see there. Uh, you know, 0:17:31.170 --> 0:17:34.320 the Trinity takes a lot more revelation from Scripture about 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:36.199 the father and the son and the Holy Spirit and 0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:38.630 to know all that. But I think you're right that 0:17:38.630 --> 0:17:42.950 that this is beginning the the information it's starting that 0:17:42.980 --> 0:17:48.020 hint of of that great mystery form of God does that. 0:17:48.140 --> 0:17:50.750 You know what I'm saying here? Now, there are some people. 0:17:50.780 --> 0:17:53.209 I understand, I think I used in my teaching the 0:17:53.210 --> 0:17:54.170 word evidence. 0:17:54.170 --> 0:17:58.250 Of. Yeah, yeah, it's the beginning revelation of it. Uh, 0:17:58.250 --> 0:18:00.919 there are some people who say that God says, let 0:18:00.920 --> 0:18:06.290 us make man because he speaks, uh, with the plural 0:18:06.290 --> 0:18:10.639 of majesty. You know, when you're like, Queen Victoria never 0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:12.740 used the first person about herself. 0:18:12.890 --> 0:18:13.760 Royalty. 0:18:13.820 --> 0:18:17.929 Yeah. And other people think that he's talking to the angels, 0:18:17.930 --> 0:18:25.520 which that doesn't make any sense, because, uh, the angels are. 0:18:25.520 --> 0:18:27.469 Man is not made in the image of God. And 0:18:27.470 --> 0:18:30.590 he says, let us make man in our image and 0:18:30.619 --> 0:18:33.409 according to our likeness. So I don't think he's speaking 0:18:33.440 --> 0:18:36.910 to the angels. I think the best answer on this 0:18:37.810 --> 0:18:40.629 is in the context it says, let us make man 0:18:40.630 --> 0:18:43.359 in our image and according to our likeness. And then 0:18:43.359 --> 0:18:47.350 he makes man in his own image. Verse 27, he 0:18:47.350 --> 0:18:50.530 created him singular in the image of God. And then 0:18:50.530 --> 0:18:55.119 it says, he created them male and female. So one 0:18:55.150 --> 0:18:59.830 aspect of the image of God is that in humanity's oneness, 0:18:59.859 --> 0:19:07.570 we're all human beings. There's a plurality, there's male and female. Right. 0:19:07.840 --> 0:19:11.200 And so I think that's a little clue for what 0:19:11.200 --> 0:19:13.630 he is doing when he says, let us make man 0:19:13.630 --> 0:19:19.540 in our image, that just as in the mysterious Godhead 0:19:19.540 --> 0:19:25.150 that's described here in his oneness, there's also plurality. So 0:19:25.150 --> 0:19:28.060 in the image of God, humanity is created with oneness. 0:19:28.060 --> 0:19:33.510 All human beings with plurality, uh, male and female. So, yeah, 0:19:33.540 --> 0:19:35.159 I think I agree with you that this is the 0:19:35.160 --> 0:19:39.510 first hints of as we study scripture, uh, we become 0:19:39.510 --> 0:19:43.890 convinced that God is triune. Okay, Craig. Okay. 0:19:44.700 --> 0:19:48.660 Thank you. Just for an aside, I called you from Thailand. 0:19:48.690 --> 0:19:52.050 I work in Thailand for in Burma. And I called 0:19:52.050 --> 0:19:54.120 you from Thailand one time as well. 0:19:54.510 --> 0:19:57.090 Ah, where are you now? You're. Are you in Minnesota 0:19:57.090 --> 0:19:57.840 right now? 0:19:58.200 --> 0:20:02.040 No, I'm in Minnesota right now. So I'm I'm in 0:20:02.040 --> 0:20:03.690 many places, but not. 0:20:03.720 --> 0:20:06.570 Well, Craig. That's great. I'm so grateful you called from Thailand. 0:20:06.600 --> 0:20:09.300 That's a wonderful experience for me, you know, to know 0:20:09.300 --> 0:20:11.190 that people are listening all over the world. I really 0:20:11.190 --> 0:20:14.879 appreciate it. So. Okay, Craig, thanks for your call. I 0:20:14.880 --> 0:20:17.340 really appreciate it. Talk to you later. We're going to 0:20:17.340 --> 0:20:21.869 talk to John in Indiana. Welcome to Open Line, John. 0:20:21.990 --> 0:20:23.070 How can I help you? 0:20:23.100 --> 0:20:25.830 Good morning. Thanks. Good morning. Thanks for taking my call. 0:20:25.859 --> 0:20:29.970 My question is difficult to put into words, but I'm 0:20:29.970 --> 0:20:32.690 going to take a shot at it. So I'm I'm 0:20:32.690 --> 0:20:35.990 confused by the doctrine of election, how God chooses us, 0:20:36.020 --> 0:20:38.630 you know, from before the foundation of the world versus 0:20:38.630 --> 0:20:41.840 our responsibility to accept Christ in our heart, you know, 0:20:41.869 --> 0:20:43.520 believe in our heart and confess with our mouth? And 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:45.770 then how does that tie in to the narrow gate 0:20:45.770 --> 0:20:48.170 and the, you know, the difficult road? What what does 0:20:48.170 --> 0:20:50.660 God do and what are we responsible for? So thank you. 0:20:50.660 --> 0:20:51.770 And I'll just listen. 0:20:51.770 --> 0:20:55.730 Thank you. Oh, well, don't hang up. Stay with me. Uh, 0:20:55.730 --> 0:21:02.810 I think that election is a challenging doctrine, because at 0:21:02.810 --> 0:21:06.410 the same time that the Bible teaches this great mystery 0:21:06.410 --> 0:21:12.740 of election, uh, the what makes it so mysterious or, uh, 0:21:13.369 --> 0:21:18.680 challenging is that we still have a human responsibility to 0:21:18.710 --> 0:21:24.980 respond in faith, so. Okay. Uh, uh, it is what 0:21:24.980 --> 0:21:30.910 some have called an antinomy, uh, an apparent contradiction. That 0:21:30.910 --> 0:21:34.510 is not a contradiction in God. That when we we 0:21:34.510 --> 0:21:37.420 see in Scripture and what's so amazing is sovereign works 0:21:37.420 --> 0:21:43.479 of God are often put right next to human responsibility. Right. Uh, 0:21:43.750 --> 0:21:47.680 it's this is work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 0:21:47.830 --> 0:21:51.010 You know. Exactly. It says, For God is at work 0:21:51.010 --> 0:21:54.160 within you, both to will and to do it right. 0:21:55.270 --> 0:22:00.280 So how can that be? Well, they're both true that 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:07.270 that there's a human responsibility and a divinely sovereign requirement 0:22:08.140 --> 0:22:11.709 that that opens our hearts and does all sorts of things. 0:22:11.740 --> 0:22:16.330 And and honestly, I, I don't ever I've given up 0:22:16.330 --> 0:22:20.740 trying to understand it. Uh, I think it was Spurgeon 0:22:20.740 --> 0:22:28.540 who said, uh, try to explain, uh, election and human responsibility. 0:22:29.430 --> 0:22:34.350 You'll lose your mind. Try and explain it away and 0:22:34.350 --> 0:22:40.080 you'll lose your soul. So, uh, that's that's what I 0:22:40.080 --> 0:22:42.720 would say is I just accept them both. I live 0:22:42.720 --> 0:22:46.740 with them both. I believe both when I pray for 0:22:46.740 --> 0:22:49.409 people to come to know the Lord, I pray as 0:22:49.410 --> 0:22:52.439 if it's all depends on God, that it's his election. 0:22:52.530 --> 0:22:56.130 And when I share my faith, I talk as if 0:22:56.130 --> 0:22:58.740 it all depends on me that I have to convince them. 0:22:58.740 --> 0:23:01.110 Even though I know God is the one who is 0:23:01.109 --> 0:23:06.660 sovereignly working. So that's how I kind of live with it. Yeah. 0:23:06.690 --> 0:23:07.500 So okay, real. 0:23:07.500 --> 0:23:11.250 Quick, let me ask for a clarification on the difference between, 0:23:11.280 --> 0:23:13.619 you know, believe in your heart and confess with your 0:23:13.619 --> 0:23:16.080 mouth and you will be saved versus the narrow gate 0:23:16.080 --> 0:23:19.260 and the long road. What is the long, difficult road 0:23:19.260 --> 0:23:21.359 if if we confess with our mouth and believe in 0:23:21.359 --> 0:23:23.790 our heart and we're saved, then what is the difficult 0:23:23.790 --> 0:23:25.530 road we have to follow? 0:23:25.530 --> 0:23:29.580 Uh, I think you're talking about, uh, the two paths 0:23:29.580 --> 0:23:32.159 in Matthew seven. Is that what you're talking about? Yes. 0:23:32.730 --> 0:23:33.060 Correct. 0:23:33.060 --> 0:23:40.530 Yes. Well, when you read that, uh, the two paths, uh, 0:23:40.530 --> 0:23:45.270 the way is broad, right? That leads to destruction. Enter 0:23:45.270 --> 0:23:48.090 through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and 0:23:48.090 --> 0:23:50.670 the road is broad. That leads to destruction, for there 0:23:50.670 --> 0:23:53.220 are many who go through it. How narrow is the 0:23:53.220 --> 0:23:56.909 gate and the. And difficult the road that leads to life. 0:23:56.910 --> 0:24:00.780 And few find it. Well, I'd say that the broad path, 0:24:00.780 --> 0:24:04.680 the broad gate, the wide gate, and the broad path 0:24:04.680 --> 0:24:09.389 has to do with the people kind of ignoring what, 0:24:09.420 --> 0:24:14.220 you know, on the human side, the human responsibility side. Uh, 0:24:14.220 --> 0:24:19.560 that looks like, uh, you know, I don't want to 0:24:19.590 --> 0:24:21.990 really hear from God. I don't want to walk with him. 0:24:21.990 --> 0:24:26.390 And so they're rejecting the gospel, but the narrow gate. 0:24:26.960 --> 0:24:31.460 Its its narrow meaning there's fewer people and it's challenging. 0:24:31.460 --> 0:24:35.930 It's difficult. Uh, it's much more difficult to live an 0:24:35.930 --> 0:24:40.490 obedient life than a disobedient life. And along with that difficulty, 0:24:40.490 --> 0:24:44.120 if you heard the opening word today, there are storms 0:24:44.240 --> 0:24:47.270 on that narrow path, and God is using it to 0:24:47.300 --> 0:24:52.160 build our faith, to reveal who he truly is and 0:24:52.160 --> 0:24:54.770 to cause us to call out to him so he 0:24:54.770 --> 0:24:58.760 can show how powerful he really is. So yeah, the 0:24:58.760 --> 0:25:03.260 path is difficult, but it's a full of abundant life. 0:25:03.260 --> 0:25:06.649 I have to say this to most people don't realize this. 0:25:06.680 --> 0:25:09.410 Not knowing the Lord. That path is difficult to. It 0:25:09.410 --> 0:25:13.970 will lead to all sorts of struggles and pain. I 0:25:13.970 --> 0:25:17.210 like to say that in John 16 is the most 0:25:17.420 --> 0:25:20.420 underused promise in the Bible. Who claims it? In this 0:25:20.420 --> 0:25:24.140 world you will have tribulation. That's a promise. That's why 0:25:24.140 --> 0:25:26.889 the path is difficult, but God uses it to build 0:25:26.890 --> 0:25:30.369 our faith, to strengthen our walk with him. And so yeah, 0:25:30.369 --> 0:25:32.920 that's what it means when it says the path is 0:25:32.920 --> 0:25:36.820 narrow and the the road is difficult. It is difficult. 0:25:36.820 --> 0:25:40.210 But God is with us. Fear not. I've overcome the world. 0:25:40.210 --> 0:25:42.699 He says. That's what the Lord told us. Hope that 0:25:42.700 --> 0:25:45.100 helps a little bit. John, thanks for your call. We'll 0:25:45.100 --> 0:25:48.220 be right back with the mailbag and Tricia in just 0:25:48.220 --> 0:26:07.060 a moment, so don't go away. And we're back. I'm 0:26:07.060 --> 0:26:10.210 so glad to be with you today. And by the way, 0:26:10.330 --> 0:26:13.210 we've got a whole crowd here in the studio. Trish 0:26:13.210 --> 0:26:19.150 is here, Ryan's here, and tiara. Tiara is answering the phones. Tyra. 0:26:19.210 --> 0:26:24.720 There's two different people. Tiara is also assisting. She's working 0:26:24.720 --> 0:26:29.160 on production with Tricia, and she's here in the studio to. 0:26:29.160 --> 0:26:32.340 I love the teamwork that we have right here on 0:26:32.340 --> 0:26:35.220 Open Line. Uh, it is a great team. Moody radio, 0:26:35.250 --> 0:26:38.100 I think, gives me a great team. Listeners, you're part 0:26:38.100 --> 0:26:40.470 of the team. So grateful for all that you do 0:26:40.470 --> 0:26:42.989 and listening in. And also, I'm so grateful for our 0:26:42.990 --> 0:26:46.919 kitchen table partners. These are the people who commit. There's 0:26:46.920 --> 0:26:49.830 so much part of the team that they commit to 0:26:49.859 --> 0:26:52.620 give monthly to open line, so we can be on 0:26:52.619 --> 0:26:56.430 the air weekly. So grateful for that. If you do that, 0:26:56.430 --> 0:26:58.800 we're so grateful that we want to send you something 0:26:58.800 --> 0:27:00.480 and say thank you. And what we do is we 0:27:00.510 --> 0:27:02.939 send you a Bible study moment every other week. It's 0:27:02.940 --> 0:27:07.199 a special Bible study prepared exclusively for our kitchen table partners. 0:27:07.200 --> 0:27:08.820 You get it in the email, click on it, listen 0:27:08.820 --> 0:27:11.369 to it. Hopefully it's an encouragement to you, helps you 0:27:11.369 --> 0:27:15.210 understand the word a little bit better. And then, uh, 0:27:15.690 --> 0:27:21.119 of course you still get the monthly, uh, resource that 0:27:21.119 --> 0:27:25.220 we provide. So it is it is something that, uh, 0:27:25.550 --> 0:27:29.000 that we are so grateful for. And if you're considering 0:27:29.000 --> 0:27:33.080 becoming a kitchen table partner, just so you know, if 0:27:33.109 --> 0:27:35.899 you commit to $30 a month or more, one of 0:27:35.900 --> 0:27:38.810 the great benefits that you get then is 50% off 0:27:38.810 --> 0:27:42.410 on everything in the Moody Publishers catalog, which includes the 0:27:42.410 --> 0:27:45.350 Moody Bible Commentary. So those are the kind of things 0:27:45.350 --> 0:27:48.470 that you might be interested in. Uh, if you'd like 0:27:48.470 --> 0:27:54.050 to become a kitchen table partner, just call (888) 644-7122. Now 0:27:54.050 --> 0:27:59.240 it's time for the FBC mailbag. That's the Far Eastern 0:27:59.240 --> 0:28:02.359 Broadcasting Company partnering with us to bring you the mailbag. 0:28:02.390 --> 0:28:06.500 It's a really terrific ministry, reaching people through media and 0:28:06.500 --> 0:28:09.980 personal touch. Uh, one of the ways to learn more 0:28:09.980 --> 0:28:13.580 about it is to go to FBC. Org click on 0:28:13.580 --> 0:28:18.050 the podcast, which is called Until All have Heard. Uh, 0:28:18.050 --> 0:28:19.969 I think that will give you a great vision and 0:28:19.970 --> 0:28:24.250 understanding for this wonderful ministry. Uh, okay. Tricia? Yes? I'm 0:28:24.250 --> 0:28:27.010 glad you're here. I wanted to get all that stuff 0:28:27.010 --> 0:28:31.570 out of the way, but it's still important. Uh, all that, and, uh, 0:28:31.780 --> 0:28:34.149 I think it's. It shouldn't be too long. We should 0:28:34.150 --> 0:28:37.030 probably get, uh, Ed Cannon from FBC on the air 0:28:37.060 --> 0:28:39.640 again when he's back in the country. He's always traveling 0:28:39.640 --> 0:28:42.430 all over the world. Uh, talk a little bit more 0:28:42.430 --> 0:28:47.020 about that wonderful ministry, but, uh, what have you got there? 0:28:47.020 --> 0:28:49.660 Did you? I see the mailbag seems to be growing. 0:28:49.690 --> 0:28:50.620 It is, it is. 0:28:50.650 --> 0:28:53.170 And we're getting ready to do a mailbag program that 0:28:53.170 --> 0:28:55.870 will air Labor Day weekend, so that'll be good. If 0:28:55.900 --> 0:28:59.770 you've emailed recently, we're going to record a new one, um, 0:28:59.770 --> 0:29:02.320 next week. And so if you or you've been sitting 0:29:02.320 --> 0:29:04.330 on a question that you haven't sent in, do it now, 0:29:04.360 --> 0:29:06.640 because I'll go through next week and I'll put the 0:29:06.640 --> 0:29:09.430 whole mailbag together for the mailbag program, and it'll air 0:29:09.460 --> 0:29:10.540 Labor Day weekend. 0:29:10.570 --> 0:29:12.580 Best way to do that is go to our website, 0:29:12.580 --> 0:29:15.730 Openline radio.org, and click on the link that says Ask 0:29:15.730 --> 0:29:18.070 Michael a question. Fill out the form and Trish will 0:29:18.070 --> 0:29:20.400 make sure your question gets into the mailbag. 0:29:20.430 --> 0:29:24.690 So yes our okay. So our first couple questions have 0:29:24.690 --> 0:29:27.690 to do with women. Um and I've invited Tara in 0:29:27.720 --> 0:29:31.320 to to help me ask these questions. But our first 0:29:31.320 --> 0:29:34.680 question is I thought more women voices would help I 0:29:34.680 --> 0:29:38.220 don't know. Yeah. Our first question is from Joy. Um, 0:29:38.220 --> 0:29:41.460 her church is having a meeting about whether or not 0:29:41.460 --> 0:29:46.410 they should have women become elders. Uh, she's heard both 0:29:46.440 --> 0:29:50.370 egalitarian and complementarian views. One which would say yes, and 0:29:50.370 --> 0:29:54.060 one which would say no. Um, but she doesn't want 0:29:54.060 --> 0:29:57.090 this to take place because of just changing times and culture. 0:29:57.090 --> 0:30:00.060 But in her looking at Scripture, there seem to be 0:30:00.060 --> 0:30:04.380 things that have been changed, like brothers becoming brothers and sisters. 0:30:04.380 --> 0:30:07.229 When that gets used in writing in the letters and 0:30:07.230 --> 0:30:10.500 different things. Um, but other things seem to stay the same, 0:30:10.500 --> 0:30:12.360 she says. I don't cover my head at church and 0:30:12.360 --> 0:30:14.970 I wonder how that was dropped. Who decides what stays 0:30:14.970 --> 0:30:18.270 and goes? But I think ultimately, should women be elders? 0:30:18.300 --> 0:30:20.010 I decide. Well. 0:30:20.280 --> 0:30:22.890 There are churches that will say one and other churches 0:30:22.890 --> 0:30:26.160 will say no. You know, so like who? Who's making 0:30:26.160 --> 0:30:31.170 those decisions on what's just cultural and what's what's what 0:30:31.200 --> 0:30:32.190 needs to stay. 0:30:32.550 --> 0:30:35.250 It's an independent church. Is obviously the elders of a 0:30:35.250 --> 0:30:39.180 church decide that. Uh, sometimes churches that are part of 0:30:39.180 --> 0:30:46.140 denominations will have a denominational responsibility. That's who decides. But really, 0:30:46.140 --> 0:30:49.380 the question is, uh, I want to say, first of all, 0:30:49.380 --> 0:30:53.280 that this is not one of those essential doctrines. You know, when, 0:30:53.310 --> 0:30:56.250 let's say, a church would decide to deny the triune 0:30:56.250 --> 0:30:59.910 nature of God. Okay. That God is 3 in 1. 0:30:59.910 --> 0:31:02.730 I would say that's essential. That would be something that 0:31:02.730 --> 0:31:04.710 I would say, you know what? I'm not going to 0:31:04.710 --> 0:31:09.960 stay in this church because I can't sit under false teaching. Okay. 0:31:09.990 --> 0:31:15.120 So but this the role of women, should they be 0:31:15.120 --> 0:31:18.470 elders or not? That's not one of those essential teachings. 0:31:18.470 --> 0:31:22.100 And so I could relax a little bit about this one. 0:31:22.490 --> 0:31:29.090 I think the simple answer is that some people take 0:31:29.870 --> 0:31:36.470 the limitations on women being elders in a cultural way. 0:31:36.470 --> 0:31:39.620 They say, oh, that's uh, it was just related to 0:31:39.650 --> 0:31:42.650 the culture of that time. It wouldn't have been acceptable 0:31:42.650 --> 0:31:47.840 for people because of beginning in the synagogue that, you know, 0:31:47.870 --> 0:31:51.560 it just wasn't really appropriate at that time for women. 0:31:51.560 --> 0:31:57.560 And so Paul laid down some limitations because of culture. 0:31:57.860 --> 0:32:00.890 But today it's no longer a problem. And so those 0:32:00.890 --> 0:32:05.000 limitations which were limited to that culture are not applicable 0:32:05.000 --> 0:32:08.720 to us. That's what's called the egalitarian position. And it's 0:32:08.720 --> 0:32:14.690 one that holds that women should be elders. Um, when 0:32:14.690 --> 0:32:18.250 I look at first Timothy two verse 12, it says, 0:32:18.250 --> 0:32:20.500 I do not allow a woman to teach or have 0:32:20.500 --> 0:32:24.700 authority over a man. Instead, my version says she is 0:32:24.700 --> 0:32:26.739 to be silent. It really should be translated. She is 0:32:26.740 --> 0:32:29.860 to be quiet. It's not talking about absolute silence, it's 0:32:29.860 --> 0:32:34.420 talking about a quietness of perspective. And then he gives 0:32:34.420 --> 0:32:37.810 two reasons, and one is the order of creation. For 0:32:37.810 --> 0:32:43.060 Adam was created first, then Eve, and then secondly. Adam 0:32:43.060 --> 0:32:46.180 was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. 0:32:46.180 --> 0:32:48.070 So first of all, the order of creation. God could 0:32:48.100 --> 0:32:51.880 have chosen to to create Eve first and make her 0:32:51.880 --> 0:32:56.260 the leader in in the home. But God chose to 0:32:56.290 --> 0:32:58.930 do it the other way. That was God's sovereign choice. 0:32:58.930 --> 0:33:02.410 And then secondly, uh, he's not saying that women are 0:33:02.410 --> 0:33:05.650 more gullible, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. I 0:33:05.650 --> 0:33:09.010 think what he is saying is, look, God established an order. 0:33:09.010 --> 0:33:11.740 But who is the one that led the the man 0:33:11.740 --> 0:33:15.570 to this sin? It was the woman. Look at the 0:33:15.900 --> 0:33:21.210 the the bad consequences of ignoring the order that God established. 0:33:21.360 --> 0:33:24.180 And so that's what the second one is. But my 0:33:24.180 --> 0:33:30.930 point is those two reasons for male leadership in local congregations, 0:33:31.140 --> 0:33:37.500 the order of creation, the the consequences of the fall 0:33:38.100 --> 0:33:40.830 don't sound to me like they're limited to the culture. 0:33:40.830 --> 0:33:44.880 They sound like they go back to Genesis chapter one 0:33:44.910 --> 0:33:48.540 and chapter two and three. And so as a result 0:33:48.540 --> 0:33:51.990 of that, I would say that the principle of how 0:33:51.990 --> 0:33:56.160 to get along in the local congregation remains. Now, I 0:33:56.160 --> 0:33:59.489 do understand why I think the NIV has changed the 0:33:59.490 --> 0:34:02.580 translation where it says brothers to brothers and sisters, because 0:34:02.610 --> 0:34:07.290 there's a generic use of brothers, which meant all people. Uh, 0:34:08.010 --> 0:34:14.930 that's the generic, but not necessarily, uh. It doesn't. It 0:34:14.960 --> 0:34:18.950 encompasses brothers and sisters. It would be much more like today. 0:34:18.950 --> 0:34:22.400 I probably would translate it. People. You know, when I 0:34:22.400 --> 0:34:26.510 talk to my classes, I never say men or women 0:34:26.510 --> 0:34:28.790 or men and women. I just say, hey, people, when I, 0:34:28.820 --> 0:34:32.150 you know, that's how I talk. So that's probably the idea. 0:34:32.150 --> 0:34:35.420 And that's why some translations change brothers to brothers and sisters. 0:34:35.420 --> 0:34:36.680 So okay. 0:34:36.710 --> 0:34:39.469 So in this particular case, you would say the women, 0:34:39.500 --> 0:34:44.120 the men in usage of men being elders should stay. 0:34:44.120 --> 0:34:47.750 Men versus brothers could become brothers and sisters to encompass 0:34:47.750 --> 0:34:50.839 all people because of the word that is actually being 0:34:50.840 --> 0:34:51.680 used in the Greek. 0:34:51.710 --> 0:34:56.000 Yeah, it's a generic sense of the word brothers. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. 0:34:56.030 --> 0:34:59.330 But the thing is, again, I don't think people should 0:34:59.330 --> 0:35:03.740 go to war over this, which, you know, believers in 0:35:03.739 --> 0:35:07.219 local congregations tend to want to go to war really easily. 0:35:07.430 --> 0:35:11.440 And this is not something to go crazy over. You know, 0:35:11.469 --> 0:35:13.330 a person might say, you know, I want I don't 0:35:13.330 --> 0:35:18.430 feel comfortable with, uh, changing the elders to women when 0:35:18.430 --> 0:35:20.589 I don't understand it to be so in Scripture, because 0:35:20.590 --> 0:35:23.740 it does look like it's tied to creation in the fall, 0:35:23.739 --> 0:35:28.090 not to the culture of the day. If a person says, 0:35:28.090 --> 0:35:32.200 I'll find a new congregation over that, I could understand that. 0:35:32.200 --> 0:35:35.050 But it's not essential because it's not an essential doctrine. 0:35:35.080 --> 0:35:41.110 Okay, so they wouldn't need to find a new congregation necessarily. Okay. No. 0:35:41.140 --> 0:35:43.299 All right, all right. Tyra, do you want to ask 0:35:43.300 --> 0:35:45.910 the next one that was also about women? 0:35:46.060 --> 0:35:49.150 Thank you for that answer, Michael. The next question is 0:35:49.150 --> 0:35:53.320 from Anne in Illinois, and she's listening from WNBA first 0:35:53.320 --> 0:35:57.370 Timothy chapter two, verse 15 claims that she shall be 0:35:57.370 --> 0:36:00.730 saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity 0:36:00.730 --> 0:36:04.750 and holiness with sobriety. And then she also compares that 0:36:04.750 --> 0:36:08.200 to Ephesians two, verses eight and nine. And so she 0:36:08.200 --> 0:36:11.819 says they're different. And how can you reconcile these scriptures? 0:36:12.420 --> 0:36:16.110 Well, first of all, the word saved. Doesn't always mean 0:36:16.110 --> 0:36:18.120 eternal salvation. What? 0:36:18.719 --> 0:36:22.830 It doesn't? Well, it doesn't help us in the English. 0:36:23.100 --> 0:36:27.420 In the context, it can mean delivered. And and I 0:36:27.420 --> 0:36:31.350 think that's what happens here. Remember, the context is I 0:36:31.350 --> 0:36:33.870 don't allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over 0:36:33.870 --> 0:36:37.590 a man. That's elder rule. I don't allow a woman 0:36:37.590 --> 0:36:39.750 to be an elder, is what he's saying. Then he 0:36:39.750 --> 0:36:43.230 gives the two reasons. One from creation, one from the fall. Right? 0:36:43.350 --> 0:36:43.920 Yeah. 0:36:44.340 --> 0:36:49.020 And then he says, but she will be delivered through 0:36:49.020 --> 0:36:53.610 bearing children. And what it means is, I think it 0:36:53.610 --> 0:36:57.210 means that she's going to have her life find its 0:36:57.210 --> 0:37:01.259 most its significance. She'll. Her life will be delivered her 0:37:01.290 --> 0:37:06.030 her significance will be delivered. Her impact will be delivered 0:37:06.030 --> 0:37:11.640 not by being an elder, but by bearing children if they. 0:37:11.670 --> 0:37:14.310 Some versions say if she but it's referring, it's literally 0:37:14.310 --> 0:37:18.480 if they the children continue in faith and love and holiness. 0:37:18.480 --> 0:37:22.170 In other words, the greatest impact a woman can have 0:37:22.620 --> 0:37:27.359 is raising children who will love the Lord. That would 0:37:27.360 --> 0:37:33.450 be her greatest ministry. Her significance will be delivered through childbearing. Now, 0:37:33.450 --> 0:37:36.540 I recognize there are some women that can't bear children. 0:37:37.320 --> 0:37:43.620 They're just they're single. Uh, or they just have medical 0:37:43.620 --> 0:37:45.930 issues that keep them from bearing children, and they choose 0:37:45.930 --> 0:37:50.310 not to adopt or they're past childbearing age. What do 0:37:50.310 --> 0:37:54.420 they do? Their kids are grown. There's much significance meant 0:37:54.450 --> 0:37:57.299 a lot of ministry of women can have. Apart from that. 0:37:57.300 --> 0:38:03.689 I think what he's really talking about is your greatest significance. Uh, and, 0:38:03.690 --> 0:38:07.250 and that's what he's saying, that the greatest impact you 0:38:07.250 --> 0:38:11.540 can make is through children now. The man who led 0:38:11.750 --> 0:38:13.489 I came to the Lord through a woman. A single 0:38:13.489 --> 0:38:17.000 woman never had children, but boy, I was always called 0:38:17.000 --> 0:38:21.020 one of Hilda Coser's kids because she led me to 0:38:21.050 --> 0:38:24.500 faith and had a cared for me. And then also 0:38:24.530 --> 0:38:26.600 the man who discipled me. He and his wife couldn't 0:38:26.600 --> 0:38:31.550 have kids, but there are so many teens that, uh, 0:38:31.550 --> 0:38:34.850 became part of his family. And to this day, I 0:38:34.850 --> 0:38:37.489 think of his wife, Arlene. Dan is with the Lord, 0:38:37.489 --> 0:38:41.960 but Arlene and Dan just adopted so many teens and 0:38:41.960 --> 0:38:44.960 cared for them. She had that impact in the lives 0:38:44.960 --> 0:38:47.840 of so many children. I'll even go further. Not just 0:38:47.840 --> 0:38:51.200 my life, but Dan and Arlene ministered to our new 0:38:51.200 --> 0:38:57.319 Jewish Studies professor taking over at Moody, uh, Michael Gabizon. And, uh, 0:38:57.320 --> 0:39:00.260 they just had that kind of great impact. So you 0:39:00.260 --> 0:39:03.260 don't have to actually physically bear children. You can have 0:39:03.260 --> 0:39:06.820 a great impact in that way as well. And so 0:39:06.850 --> 0:39:08.800 and it doesn't mean that's the only way you can 0:39:08.800 --> 0:39:12.520 have an impact, but the greatest impact. Tricia, you will 0:39:12.520 --> 0:39:15.760 ever have, I'll say that is through those wonderful kids 0:39:15.760 --> 0:39:16.630 you got. Mm. 0:39:16.900 --> 0:39:20.140 Thank thank you for that, Michael. It also sounds like 0:39:20.140 --> 0:39:24.340 this question deals with purpose and call. And you mentioned 0:39:24.340 --> 0:39:29.350 so much about discipleship. And we can disciple others. We 0:39:29.350 --> 0:39:32.740 can evangelize to others, whether they are whether they are 0:39:32.770 --> 0:39:36.730 our biological children or they're just someone in our sphere 0:39:36.730 --> 0:39:37.720 of influence. 0:39:37.750 --> 0:39:38.469 Yeah. 0:39:38.920 --> 0:39:41.200 There there are kids in our lives that we can 0:39:41.200 --> 0:39:45.969 have an impact on, especially moms, uh, not necessarily their mom, 0:39:45.969 --> 0:39:50.890 but women. If those kids to help them continue walking 0:39:50.890 --> 0:39:54.220 in faith and love and holiness, that's exactly the kind 0:39:54.219 --> 0:39:58.000 of impact you can have. So anyway, uh, it's basically 0:39:58.000 --> 0:40:02.440 saying don't pursue necessarily being an elder, pursue having that 0:40:02.440 --> 0:40:05.610 impact in the life of of those kids that God 0:40:05.640 --> 0:40:08.340 has put in your path. So thank you anyway. Thank you. 0:40:08.370 --> 0:40:10.170 Thanks for those questions. We're going to come back with 0:40:10.170 --> 0:40:13.080 more of your questions in just a moment. That was 0:40:13.080 --> 0:40:16.859 Tricia McMillan and Tara Haynes, and I'm Michael Melnick. I'll 0:40:16.860 --> 0:40:17.910 be right back. So don't. 0:40:17.910 --> 0:40:29.100 Go away. We're. 0:40:31.530 --> 0:40:35.160 So glad that you're listening today. Uh, my name is 0:40:35.160 --> 0:40:38.460 Michael Radonich. And, uh, we're going to go right back 0:40:38.460 --> 0:40:40.110 to the phones right now. We're going to talk to 0:40:40.140 --> 0:40:44.730 Randy in Illinois, listening on WDM over by the Quad Cities. 0:40:44.730 --> 0:40:47.790 Welcome to Open Line. Randy, how can I help you today? 0:40:49.739 --> 0:40:53.370 Uh, thank you for taking my call, Michael. Sure. Um, 0:40:54.360 --> 0:40:58.140 I was listening to you talk about, uh, Jesus calms 0:40:58.140 --> 0:41:02.989 the storm. Uh, you went through those passages, and it 0:41:02.989 --> 0:41:06.620 just hit me. It seems like, uh, we're just puppets 0:41:06.620 --> 0:41:11.569 on a string. Uh, what do you think about that? Uh, we, 0:41:11.600 --> 0:41:14.779 you know, Jesus knew there was going to be a storm, 0:41:15.020 --> 0:41:19.190 and he lays down in front of the boat. Uh, 0:41:19.190 --> 0:41:22.190 they go on the lake. And, of course, if Peter's there, 0:41:22.219 --> 0:41:25.490 I'm sure he was. You don't go on a lake 0:41:25.610 --> 0:41:29.390 in the dark, for one thing. But it just seems 0:41:29.390 --> 0:41:34.760 like we're puppets. Uh, he's going to know our reactions, 0:41:34.760 --> 0:41:38.720 and I just wondered about that. What do you think? 0:41:39.980 --> 0:41:46.400 I don't think we're puppets. Uh, the reason I don't 0:41:46.400 --> 0:41:49.910 think we're puppets is when. And people ask me this 0:41:49.910 --> 0:41:52.520 all the time, they say, well, if if God knew 0:41:52.550 --> 0:41:56.420 that Adam and Eve were going to sin, why did 0:41:56.420 --> 0:42:00.230 he make us with the ability to sin? The the 0:42:00.230 --> 0:42:06.430 the the will, free will. And the answer I always 0:42:06.430 --> 0:42:08.980 have is if God didn't give us the ability to 0:42:09.010 --> 0:42:13.690 respond appropriately or inappropriately, then we would just be computers. 0:42:13.690 --> 0:42:17.770 We'd be machines that are programmed and that's that. And 0:42:17.770 --> 0:42:22.540 and we can't grow in faith if we're just a machine. 0:42:22.570 --> 0:42:27.910 We can't learn to trust. We can't, uh, grow in 0:42:27.910 --> 0:42:34.210 obedience if we. If we're just puppets on a string. Uh, 0:42:34.300 --> 0:42:37.150 I just don't see it. I think that the Lord 0:42:37.150 --> 0:42:41.500 Jesus deliberately put them in that circumstance, knowing that the 0:42:41.500 --> 0:42:46.540 storm was coming so that the that not I don't 0:42:46.570 --> 0:42:49.060 I don't know in what sense, but he knew that 0:42:49.060 --> 0:42:51.430 they were going to grow in their faith because of 0:42:51.430 --> 0:42:56.469 being there. And and how they would respond would help 0:42:56.469 --> 0:43:02.670 them or strengthen them So that's. I don't think that's 0:43:02.700 --> 0:43:05.190 that at all is puppets on a string, I think. 0:43:05.190 --> 0:43:08.219 How are we going to every one of us? I'm, 0:43:08.219 --> 0:43:10.620 I'm saying how will we respond when we go through 0:43:10.620 --> 0:43:14.790 a storm? Uh, are we going to have the mistaken 0:43:14.790 --> 0:43:18.780 ideas the disciples did? Or are we going to call 0:43:18.780 --> 0:43:22.589 out to him to deliver us, just as the disciples 0:43:22.590 --> 0:43:26.100 ultimately did? What do you think? 0:43:27.000 --> 0:43:31.140 Hey, um, that helps a lot. Now, what about the scenario? 0:43:31.140 --> 0:43:34.200 We're just caught up into a big battle between God 0:43:34.200 --> 0:43:38.610 and Satan, and we're caught in the middle, and he's 0:43:38.610 --> 0:43:43.530 looking for the right reaction from us to pick the 0:43:43.530 --> 0:43:44.700 right side. 0:43:45.480 --> 0:43:46.200 Uh. 0:43:46.710 --> 0:43:51.720 I don't think that that's sort of a dualistic kind 0:43:51.719 --> 0:43:55.920 of philosophy, that there's a good God and a bad god, 0:43:55.920 --> 0:44:01.950 and and we're kind of between the two gods. I listen, 0:44:01.950 --> 0:44:05.279 read the book of revelation and the point of the 0:44:05.280 --> 0:44:08.819 book of revelation written to people who are being persecuted 0:44:08.940 --> 0:44:12.810 in the 90s in the Roman Empire, was to show 0:44:12.810 --> 0:44:15.870 them the end times and show them who wins, that 0:44:15.870 --> 0:44:20.970 God is sovereignly in charge. And, uh, it's not about, 0:44:21.780 --> 0:44:25.560 you know, which which side you're going to choose. It's look, 0:44:25.560 --> 0:44:28.230 God is sovereign and he is going to win. And 0:44:28.230 --> 0:44:32.700 we're not caught up at all, uh, we are cared for, protected, 0:44:32.700 --> 0:44:37.680 looked after by the God who is faithful. So no, 0:44:37.710 --> 0:44:45.090 I don't I, I probably wouldn't take that dualistic approach. Randy. Okay. 0:44:45.840 --> 0:44:52.200 Okay. Um, okay. Well, I've been a Christian over 40 years, and, uh, uh, 0:44:52.200 --> 0:44:58.580 the struggles he's put me through and I put myself through, that, 0:44:58.580 --> 0:45:03.140 I see other people my family go through. Uh, once 0:45:03.140 --> 0:45:07.129 in a while I get angry at God. Not not 0:45:07.130 --> 0:45:11.120 so much angry as, uh. It's like you said, to 0:45:11.150 --> 0:45:14.180 try to build their faith. How much? How much do 0:45:14.180 --> 0:45:17.509 they have to go through? How much do I have 0:45:17.510 --> 0:45:21.080 to go through to get to that point of faith? 0:45:21.469 --> 0:45:25.610 You know, let me just say this. I mentioned this before. Uh, 0:45:25.610 --> 0:45:30.229 John 1613. In this world you will have tribulation. But 0:45:30.230 --> 0:45:33.380 fear not. I have overcome the world. We are promised tribulation. 0:45:33.380 --> 0:45:35.600 But I want to tell you this to people who 0:45:35.630 --> 0:45:39.830 don't know the Lord are promised tribulation as well. The 0:45:39.830 --> 0:45:43.970 difference between people who know the Lord and don't know 0:45:43.969 --> 0:45:47.210 the Lord is not that we don't go through tribulation. 0:45:47.210 --> 0:45:50.960 They do. We all go through tribulation, difficulties, challenges. The 0:45:50.960 --> 0:45:53.989 difference is, is who walks through them with us, who 0:45:54.020 --> 0:45:58.330 empowers us as we go through them, who builds our faith, 0:45:58.330 --> 0:46:05.260 who encourages us as we go through those storms. So, uh, 0:46:05.260 --> 0:46:10.360 don't lose heart, Randy. He. He has overcome the world. 0:46:10.360 --> 0:46:13.540 He's powerful enough to get you through. Okay. So don't 0:46:13.540 --> 0:46:17.140 lose heart at all. Well, we're going to. That's the 0:46:17.140 --> 0:46:18.640 first hour. I can't believe it. We have to come 0:46:18.640 --> 0:46:21.070 back with a second hour of open line on most 0:46:21.070 --> 0:46:23.860 of these stations. So don't go away if your station 0:46:23.860 --> 0:46:25.690 doesn't carry open line. Check us out on the Moody 0:46:25.719 --> 0:46:29.890 Radio app or online or with the podcast during the break, 0:46:29.920 --> 0:46:33.400 check out our web page, Open Line radio.org. It's got 0:46:33.400 --> 0:46:35.709 all the links you're looking for, things that you would 0:46:35.710 --> 0:46:38.049 like to see, like how to become a kitchen table 0:46:38.080 --> 0:46:40.930 partner or how to get our current resource. The Bible 0:46:40.960 --> 0:46:44.739 study across America will continue in the second hour. Open 0:46:44.739 --> 0:46:48.580 line with Doctor Michael Dolnick is a production of Moody Radio, 0:46:48.610 --> 0:46:52.300 a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. We're coming right back, so. 0:46:52.300 --> 0:46:53.200 Don't go away.